Device for bending moldings to form picture-frames.



No. 639,342. Patented'Deq. :9, I899.

L. A. BELMONT.

DEVICE FOR BENDING MDLDING'S TO FORM PICTURE FRAMES.

(Application filed Feb. 2, 1899.) \No Model.)

IIIIIHIIIIIJNHEWEEE.

YIIII UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

LOUIS A. BELMONT, OF CHIOAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO S. FRANKLIN, OF

SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR BENDING MOLDINGS TO FORM PICTURE-FRAMES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,342, dated December 19, 1899. Application filed February 2, 1899. Seri l 1\T0- 704,308. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs A. BELMONT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Bending Moldings to Form Picture-Frames; and Idohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to. a novel construction in a device for forming picture-frames from steamed wood, the object being to provide means for forming cheap and durable frames requiring less lumber and labor than is possible with present constructions of such frames; and it consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating .my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view,

partly in section, of a frame-bending devicev with a frame in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a detail fragmentary section of same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary View in elevation showing a strap substituted for the link belt. v

In said drawings, A indicates an elliptical plate or frame-piece, preferably open at itsmiddle portion and of suitable thickness. A

plate B is adapted to be removably mounted on said plate A by means of set-screws 1 passing through slots 2 in said plate B and enter ing screw-threaded openings 3 in plate A. Said slots 2 are round at their middle portions, and on two opposite sides'of said middle portion they are narrowed, so that the heads of said set-screws can pass through the same. The edges of said plates A and B are of a form coinciding with and adapted to receive that side edge of the molding which forms the inner edge of the finished pictureframe. On one of said plates, preferably the plate A, I cast an outwardly-extending lug b, in which a pin 0 is mounted, which extends transversely to the edges of the plates A and B. Said plates A and B are adapted to be removably mounted upon a rod fitting within the opening 0 in hub D in said frame A, and a strip of steamed molding, the ends of which are cut on a bevel to form a lap-joint when brought together, is laid with one end upon the edges of the frame formed by the plates A molding and between the same and said pin 0 and held in such position by the latter. All the links of said chain are then brought into engagement with the outer edge of said strip of molding, and the opposite end is grasped and swung around said plates A and B, thereby bending said molding around said plates until the ends' thereof meet, said ends having been previously smeared with glue. By means of suitable clamping devices the chain E is then drawn very tight, thus pressing saidmolding into close contact with said plates A and B and also pressing the ends of the molding close together. The plates A and B are then released from the table 0 and the entire device, with the bent molding, is removed to allow said molding to become dry and fixed in its new form. The sprocketchain E is then removed and the plates A and B separated to permit the finished frame to be removed. Said sprocket-chain E consists of two end links 4, each having a projection 5 at one end, adapted to receive a link 6, provided with a set-screw 7 in one end, which bears against one of said projections and draws both the same toward each other, and one of said links 4 is also provided with a beveled portion 01 adjacent its rear end, which is adapted to be engaged by said pin 0 and when drawn to be wedged against the molding thereby, thus holding the latter firmly in place. One of said end links 4 is provided with two raised projections 8, adapted to receive a lug 9 on the next link 10 of the chain between. them and to be pivotally secured thereto by means of a rivet 11, passing through openings in said lugs or projections 8 and 9. Said links 10 are each provided with similar raised projections 8 at one end and lugs 9 at their other ends and are thus connected with eachother and with said links 4. Said links 4 and 10 have their inner faces formed to accord with and receive the outer edge of the strip to be bent, and while serving to bend said molding also serve to hold the same against splitting and becoming ragged on the outer edge, as so frequently occurs with steamed wood when drying and after being bent. In Fig. 3 Ihave shown one of said end links connected with a strap of sheet metal which is adapted to be substituted for the link belt when it is desired to bend moldings having plane outer edges.

By means of my manner of forming the edges of my device to closely embrace the edges of the molding I absolutely prevent all splitting and unevenness of the wood and also form a true ellipse.

I-Ieretofore frames of this form have been made from a number of pieces joined together, each piece being separately cut from a piece of lumber. This construction is very expensive, owing to the labor involved and the waste of lumber, and the finished frames are so delicate that when dropped they usually break. A frame made as above described is extremely strong, besides being cheap to manufacture, owing to absence of .waste and far less labor.

I claim as my invention A device for bending moldings to form picture-frames, the combination with a frame comprising a plurality of superposed plates so formed on their periphery as to conform to the shape of the inner edge of the molding to be bent and adapted to be removably secured together, of a pliable member adapted to surround said plate and formed on its inner face to conform to the outer edge of the molding to be bent, and means for contracting said pliable member around said frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS A. BELMONT.

Witnesses:

RUDOLPH WM. LoT'z, JOHN D. WILLIAMSON. 

